Herbert's Arm, Strong Defensive Effort Lead UO To Win Over Montana

Saturday, September 14

Eugene, Ore.

7:45 PM

University of Oregon

2-1

Montana

2-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Montana

Oregon

Herbert's Arm, Strong Defensive Effort Lead UO To Win Over Montana

09/14/19 | Football

Box Score FINAL STATS - #15 Oregon 35, Montana 3 Oregon Postgame Notes - Montana

The Ducks improved to 2-1 this season with a 35-3 victory Saturday night over the Grizzlies.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Justin Herbert threw five touchdown passes and Oregon's defense held its opponent without a touchdown, each for the second week in a row, as the 15th-ranked Ducks wrapped up their nonconference slate with a 35-3 win Saturday over Montana in Autzen Stadium.

Herbert threw two touchdown passes to Jacob Breeland in the first quarter and two more to Johnny Johnson III before the Grizzlies got on the scoreboard with a field goal late in the third quarter. Herbert added another touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to Jaylon Redd.

The UO offense averaged 6.9 yards per play on the night, yet struggled to finish as many drives as the week before, when Oregon scored 77 points to beat Nevada.

"You never apologize for a victory," UO coach Mario Cristobal said. "But we'd like to be a little more sharp in our execution."

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Herbert certainly did his part. In Oregon's two nonconference home games, the Eugene native was 49-of-68 for 626 yards and 10 touchdowns. He became the first player in program history to throw five TD passes in back-to-back games.

The UO defense, meanwhile, allowed only three field goals in the home wins — two to Nevada a week ago, and one Saturday to Montana.

"They're just focused on getting better, and they've done a great job so far," Cristobal said. "And the best is yet to come, we really feel that."

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Johnson caught eight passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the 13th different Duck to score a touchdown through three games. Travis Dye started at running back and rushed 17 times for 101 yards.

Jevon Holland's five tackles led a balanced effort by the defense. Mase Funa made his first career start and recorded his third sack already this season. The Ducks broke up seven passes, including the first career interception by Mykael Wright.

Funa and Wright are two of the 16 true freshmen to have played already this season for that Ducks. That number grew from 14 on Saturday when cornerback Trikweze Bridges and offensive tackle Jonah Tauanu'u each made his collegiate debut.